About This Role
The Benefits Specialist supports the day-to-day administration of the Company's U.S. and Canadian benefits programs, including billing, reconciliation, audits, compliance, and leave administration. This role partners with third-party administrators, carriers, and internal stakeholders to ensure accurate and efficient benefits operations, resolve complex issues, and maintain compliance. Success in this role requires strong analytical and critical thinking skills, initiative, attention to detail, and the ability to independently investigate issues and drive them to resolution while delivering exceptional service to employees and business partners.
Responsibilities
- Administer the Company's U.S. and Canadian health, welfare, retirement, and leave programs, including medical, dental, vision, spending accounts, disability, life insurance, voluntary benefits, and retirement plans
- Partner with administrators and vendors to support accurate, effective program delivery
- Oversee the third-party administrator's enrollment and eligibility processes, including new hires, qualifying life events, benefit changes, and terminations
- Monitor activity, resolve exceptions, and ensure accurate, timely data transfers among HRIS, payroll, benefits systems, and carriers
- Serve as the day-to-day contact for benefit administrators, carriers, vendors, payroll, and internal partners
- Research and resolve enrollment, eligibility, billing, payroll deduction, and claims issues, escalating complex or recurring matters as needed
- Respond to employee questions through the HR ticketing system, email, phone, and in person
- Explain plan provisions, eligibility, enrollment, claims, and available resources, and help employees use benefits software and vendor services
- Develop and deliver benefits communications and resources, including new hire materials, open enrollment communications, benefit guides, and year-round education
- Prepare and reconcile benefit invoices, investigate discrepancies, coordinate corrections, and support financial reporting and divisional cost allocations
- Audit and reconcile HRIS, payroll, benefits, and carrier data, including eligibility, enrollments, dependent information, deductions, and coverage
- Resolve data and integration issues and support system configuration, testing, and process improvements
- Partner with HR business partners, leaders, legal, and leave administrators to support leave programs
- Provide guidance, monitor cases requiring attention, coordinate with vendors, and escalate issues as appropriate
- Support benefits compliance activities, including required filings, reporting, testing, notices, and fees related to ACA, COBRA, ERISA, HIPAA, Section 125, Form 5500, 1095-C, Medicare Part D, Schedule 7, and nondiscrimination testing
- Maintain standard operating procedures, process documentation, and administrative controls
- Recommend improvements that strengthen accuracy and controls, improve the employee experience, increase efficiency, and reduce costs
- Support annual open enrollment, including plan setup validation, system and carrier integration testing, employee communications, enrollment monitoring, issue resolution, and post-enrollment audits
- Prepare reports and analyses on enrollment, utilization, costs, compliance, financial reconciliation, vendor service, and operational performance
- Share trends and improvement opportunities with the Benefits Manager
- Support benefit plan implementations, vendor transitions, system enhancements, and other benefits projects as assigned
Requirements
- Minimum of 3 years of previous Human Resources benefits experience with demonstrated success supervising staff
- High school diploma or equivalent required
- Bachelor's degree preferred
- Working knowledge of health and welfare benefits administration, vendor coordination, billing and reconciliation, eligibility, and compliance requirements
- Experience with U.S. and Canadian benefits programs preferred
- Experience working with HR Information System
- Experience with Oracle HCM a plus
- Computer proficiency and technical aptitude including advanced Microsoft Word and Excel skills
- Exceptional customer service skills and the ability to maintain an excellent working relationship with internal and external customers
- Effective planning and priority setting
- Ability to manage several complex projects simultaneously while working under pressure to meet deadlines
- Strong analytical/critical thinking skills and a thorough knowledge of benefit plan design and legislative requirements
- Strong research, project scheduling and project management skills
- Ability to engage in and foster a team environment
- Excellent oral and written communications skills, as well as good listening skills
- Self-motivated with the ability to perform independently and identify needed action without continual direction
- Ability to demonstrate a positive attitude, maturity, initiative and integrity while working effectively in a team environment
Benefits
- Comprehensive benefits including health, wellness, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance
- Retirement savings options including employer match
- Education Assistance to encourage continued personal development and growth
About the Company
KIK Consumer Products creates products and brands that people trust to clean, sanitize, and protect their homes and pools. As one of North America's largest independent consumer product manufacturers, KIK has 16 North American manufacturing facilities and operates globally in Canada, Europe, South Africa, and Australia. They are known for a portfolio of notable brands including Spic and Span® and Comet® cleaning products, Clorox® Pool&Spa™ (under license), BioGuard®, and Natural Chemistry® pool chemicals. KIK is also the #1 producer in North America of store-brand bleach and a leading private-label provider of laundry detergent and additives, dishwashing products, general-purpose cleaning, and other home care products. Their global team of over 2,300 employees drives capabilities in product development, product formulation, strategic sourcing, manufacturing, packaging design, brand marketing, project management, quality assurance, compliance, distribution, and logistics. The organization is constantly evolving and is driven by a set of “One KIK” values – a dedication to following through on commitments in a customer-focused, profit-motivated way; while never compromising on safety, ethics, or integrity.
